January 8/10 18:48 pm - Canadian Women's Race Organizer to Withdraw?

Posted by Editoress on 01/8/10

It looks like North American women's road racing is about to suffer a serious blow, with the expected withdrawal of organizer Daniel Manibal. Manibal and his team have organized the Montreal Women's World Cup, Tour du Grand Montreal and the Tour of PEI - among the only UCI sanctioned women's only races in North America. Before Christmas we spoke with Mr Manibal regarding the status of his events for 2010, and he said that it did not look too good - sponsorship was getting more and more difficult to obtain and, with the two ProTour races coming to Quebec [in September], it would be even harder to attract sponsors and arrange the necessary road closures. The Canadian Cycling Association still holds the World Cup sanction if Mr Manibal pulls out, but they would have to find a replacement organizer and sponsors in a very short time.